Born in 1736 in Marblehead, New York, Daniel Brodhead served as a colonel in the Revolutionary War, commanding the Western Department from his headquarters at Fort Pitt from 1779 to 1781. The collection contains copies of orders sent by Brodhead to various military officers, including those stationed at Forts Armstrong, Wheeling, Tuscarora, and Laurens. The letters reveal the recurring difficulties posed by food shortages, lack of money, uncooperative officers, and raids conducted by hostile Indian tribes, which contributed to settlers abandoning their property. Digital reproductions of the collection are available electronically by following the respective "Digitized Folder Contents" links within the finding aid.